Rotary lawn sprinkler



July 5, 1949- v J. E. AsHwoRTH v 21,475,537

ROTARY LAWN SPRINKLER Filed D60. l, `194'? 2 Sheets-Sheet l IN1/Enron.

JAA/fes Asl/Woef# BY 2 l ArrOA/EY J. E. AsHwoRTr-l ROTARY LAWN SPRINKLER July 5; 1949.

` 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. AIl., 1947 INVENToR. l .Af/145s 45u/wem ,4free/Vey y, f /f r f/w, 4. M I m. ,/0. A/y a 4, N i M af 1 fir; 1? 4 E; 1 w j 3.

Patented July 5, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ROTARY LAWN SPRINKLER James E. Ashworth, Oakland, Calif.

Application December 1, 1947, Serial No. 789,087

8 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a rotary lawn sprinkler and more particularly to a sprinkler designed to vary the pattern of the sprinkled area from a conventional circular outline.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a portable lawn sprinkler which is adapted to Water a non-circular area with uniform spraying eifects to attain most efhcient utilization of the available water supply.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an automatically operating spraying device for patterned areas, which is rugged and economical in construction and which is positive and certain in its operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a driving arrangement for a rotary lawn sprinkler which is independent of the amount of water which is discharged therefrom or the area which is sprinkled thereby. The drive is attained from a branch path of the water supply and serves to convert the kinetic energy of a small fluid stream operating a water wheel at high speed and low torque to a rotary movement of the sprinkler nozzle operating at low speed and high torque.

It is another object of the invention to provide a rotary nozzle with a flexible portion capable of assuming varying inclinations in the course of rotary travel of the nozzle, the tilting effects of which are attained with certainty by a novel leverage system which converts comparatively small displacements of a controlling element to the maximum desired inclinations of the discharge portion of the nozzle.

The invention proceeds upon the principle of providing a stationary upstanding cylindrical frame with a cam track on the upper edge thereof provided with a plurality of alternately displaced rises and depressions, which in the illustrated embodiment of the invention have been shown with four of such spaced 90 apart, to effect the spraying' of a square area. A rotary nozzle embodying a flexible portion experiences tilting movements corresponding to these rises and depressions as the sameris rotated so that the corners of the square area may be watered at the points of maximum nozzle inclination to the horizontal corresponding to the rises of the cam track, while the sides of the square area are watered during the travel of the nozzle guide on the lower portions of the cam track; and to attain a well delineated pattern the ascents and descents from the rises are comparatively steep.

The mechanical advantage of an intercon nected lever system is utilized to obtain a positive action for the angular lowering and lifting movements of the nozzle. At the same time a positive rotary drive of the nozzle is attained by the use of a water wheel which is actuated by a separate jet of water `branched off from the water supply, the rapid rotary movement of which at high speed and low torque is transformed to a slow rotary movement of the nozzle at high torque through the intermediary of efficient reduction gearing. The jet of water for the drive of the water wheel be controlled independently of the main supply of water to render the rotary drive for the nozzle adjustable and still independent of the amount of water discharged from the nozzle, the area watered thereby or the operating head of the water supply.

Other objects and purposes will appear from the detailed description of the invention following hereinafter, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a perspective View with certain portions broken away of the improved rotary sprinkler in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional View of the sprinkler along line 2 2 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view along line Of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a developed elevation of the cam track at the upper end of the cylindrical frame for controlling the inclination of the rotary nozzle; and

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the pattern of the square area sprinkled by the improved sprinkler in accordance with the invention.

In Fig. 1 is shown the operative assembly of the rotary sprinkler which is formed by a main cy1indrical frame lil on the bottom of which may be threaded a supporting base therefor Il, which is shown of square conguration, but which may be varied to assume any other geometrical form such as round, hexagonal, etc. The base Il in creases the stability of the assembly which is set up cna lawn in the center ofthe area which is sought to be sprayed or watered.

A horizontal water supply pipe l2 extends through the vertical wall of the cylindrical frame housing Iii near the bottom thereof and a detachable coupling ld. is disposed at the free end thereof for connecting a hose, water pipe or other conduit I3 leading from a source of water, to the interior of the sprinkler. The supply pipe i2 extends inwardly of the frame l!) to the base I5 of the vertical water pipe shaft it which is shown threaded into the upper end of the base T i5 at H. The vertical water pipe shaft I6 is disposed. along the exact central axis of the cylindrical frame ID and acts as the center of rotation of the rotary nozzle frame 2li provided with an upstanding portion 2l. The interior center portion of the nozzle frame 2i) is packed with a compression spring i9, split gasket I8 and packing Ill to provide a packing area between the nozzle frame 2l) and vertical pipe shaft it which is water tight, but which nevertheless operates with minimum rotary friction. The interior end portions and bottom horizontal surface of nozzle frame 20, as well as top horizontal surface of base I5, is machine nished to provide a horizontal rotating surface with minimum rotary friction.

The `,upper VIportion 2lv of the.nozzle..frame is of U-shaped crossesectioni to provide 'a guide for the flexible nozzle portion 40 which may be formed of corrugated metal, rubber, reenforced rubber or the like, and which is fastened within the upper end of nozzle frame 2Il..by;f'soldering, threading or the like. The open .lateral wall of the U-shaped frame 2| permits the'fflexible nozzle portion 40 to assume varying :degrees `:of inclinations, and at the same time the walls of the U- shaped frame 2I provide connecting pointsfor the leverage system for controlling the inclina- .iA-rotary nozzleframeZn--ZI isprovided with nai horizontal 'slielff 22# near-"the upper end thereof andi spacedr-vertical wing 23,". adjacentfrthe .lower vendfth'ereof ,ffforim'ounting la' vertical rotary 'shaft .p2 I5 which'e'imparts" rotary 'motion tothe sprinkler. Thewing'f 23; lyingfine:awerticalitplane, terminates inlspaced.'cylindricaibearings 24:.and 24,'res;pec-

tively, tor. the'receptionzofetheslower end of `Vertifz'cal': shafts. 'Ar-:worln:for1endless` screw 21 is rmountedsfonfverticalshaftx-2 Ii` `near the lower. end thereof betweentbearings 24f and 24', forming one component of a Wornrgearnnit at the center of :.theifwingsf-ZS. iAniiopeningVZ 'in the 'horizontal shew-22rextendingielaterally from the upper end of the nozzle'iframelioperates as -anotherbearenga-point for:=theryertical1-shaft `2li, -on the upper end of which is mountedtawvater wheel 65' having -aalipluralityeoffblades-62 which-are adapted "to be actuated by a jet of water issuing-from the end Ii I or branch'fpipe '.6 Ilwwhich` `'isf'.connected `to the vertical-wall oftxthetnozzle iframe 20, .through boreel;at`a..point:above'thea-end ofthe fixed '@verticalwwater'spiperzl .,The'fbore 64,ffas well as apipefiaremf smallscrossesectional area so that maximum 4v.elovv of `-'water #takes place therey:Ethrough'forf, allevariationsi of. flow 'through the .niainyspri-nlrler pi-pewl,y evenfwhen the sameoperates ati-its 'lowest'.-routput .capacity The 'end 6l-fof the pipef is=.-preferably.attened; and if desiredzavalve-:Bimayxbe: inserted in .this branch pipe :to: .vcontrol tlfierrorceqv of thejet Lof -water im- .pinging ...upon'thewbladess62 v"to thereby control :thespeediot fthefwater wheeleor turbine.

y -Affhorfizontal rfflxed shaft-"2 9 extends vtransversely from the nozzle tramevtoevvhichit is rigidly connected and1 vcarriesathereon a rotating sleeve Silhav-irigfanlintegralspiral'toothed wheel 28 in meshingeengagementewith .the worm 21 to operate Aaszthe spur-wheell or Worm-Wheel of the sec- Aond componenteotf a worm` gear .assembly'. An Nintegral .pinion or--geartwheel 3I is fmounted' at .the .oppositefend of-.fthe v`sleeve: .-and.l is .in engagementA with.a,.gearfitrack- 32 which is v'cuton. vthecupper faceof .aring 33 whichisfastened-on the innerwall o..the..frame.,fltlloy.` any suitable .-means..such...as..bolts-=or rivets 34. The horizon- .tal Irotary. high-,speedwlow-torque :movement imparted to, the. .water wheehy 65...by. .thestream of z f f water. l issuing.. .romenozzle` .6 I Nis. transmitted4 to ,.vvOrm. 21 through vertical shaft .26, imparting ,medium-speed and mdium-torque .to worm wheel i 28; and ...the integra1...pinion 3| rotating about..fixed, shaftlZB rigidly .mounted on .nozzlel frame 2n .thusiiimpartsf low-speed high-.torque rotation to` .the .nozzle vframe' 20..about the- Water pipe shaft I6, th-rough l engagement of. pinion. 3 I `.with h.the gear'track 321`1i'gidlymounted on"the stationarylframe' 20.

The speed of the rotary movement of the nozzle frame is controlled solely by the water passing through the branch pipe 60, irrespective of the quantity of water which is directed through the waterspipe I6 for discharge through ilexible pipe `40 and the nozzle 61 which is detachably Iconnected to the free end of this flexible 'portion 4II. =A support for this free portion of the nozzle 40 fis 'provided' by the bifurcated frame 4I having 10 yarms 42 and 42' pivotally connected to the lateral walls Vof' the U-shaped nozzle frame 2l at Vvpivots.48.fand.48. The head of the frame 4I supports the free end `of hose 40, and the mouth l4I"-`thereof terminates in a threaded end for at- 15 tachment thereto of nozzle 61. The bifurcated vii-amelIsalsofhasvmounted thereon at pivots 4G sariddz-a; pair-'.of-rlevers 44, 44'vacross whichis 'f-.bridgedwairi'gidffarm 45 `carrying at the midportionk thereof a follower yor guide roller 50, f-Whichgpreferablyfis .mounted on ball-bearings, wand-which-isrdesigned to roll over the` trackway ...5I formedfon ,thefupperedge of the cylindrical iframe-Ill. .Additional levers 43 and 43v extend between the free ends-or-arm- 45 and -pivots-41 and41'.-on-the lateral walls of the nozzle frame H2L-forming,.- a.compound leverage system of 2. to lfadvantage. Opening movements of the sets A of-a'llevers'f-43, ;44.and 43,.44.,caused by upward movements of roller result in corresponding doubledisplaeementsdoetween the pivots 41, 41'

and-46, 46', respectively.

i As shown.. in Fig.4,...thetrackway 5I isprovided .with four .equally spaced. rises 5 I aand low `points. 5Ib,.\vvvi.th.the rises and descents from. the 35 points '51a being comparatively steep. These rises. effect .themaximuminclinations 10 of the ...nozzlein ordertov have. 'the water reach the corners. of the. square. to be watered, as shown. in

.Fig...5. ...The nozzle dropsfrom the high points Lmino a smaller inclinationdesignated as 1I to Water the.. sidesofthe ysquare .area to be watered.

V.By means of .thesystemof compound levers `described above, `Awhich in eiect functions as a Vv.pantographic arrangement of toggle levers, comparativelysmall verticalmovements of the roll- `erlBI) on the cam track 5I are multiplied to give correspondingly .larger angularmovements of the nozzle head` 4I, so that in effect the nozzle can be varied from an"inclina`tion of. approximately 501 15`.to;.water the 'sides of a square to a maximum (angle `of approximately 45 which has been founddesirable in orderto reach the corners 'of the areato beiwatered.

While' the detachable nozzle 61 is shown with anarcuatelowerH surface 68, which is provided withga plurality of perforations, the nozzle construction can assumedifferent. forms.

"The inventionlends itself to many. variations. 'For example, the. camtrack for guiding the con- Ltrol roller for the nozzle may be formed ori-a separate annulus which may be detachably mounted on the supporting casing Il). A plurality of such' may bejprovided for purposes of interchangeability in; conformity with different ,pattern effects. 4"'Re'ctan'gular.areas may be watered `by arranginglthe four. rises` llia atpairs of spaced points other than 90 apart. Furthermore,A poly- ,gons of. any'numberbf sidesmay be'watered by forminga cam track .with a corresponding number 'of..rises. l

'The sizeof the area being -sprinkled may be controlled by 'varyingthe'ipressure of the mainlwater supply by avalve. at. the source of water or.. at v"theksprinklery .a 'decrease 'of the main water supplyresultsin areduction of'. the size of the sprinkled .area while an increase of water results in an enlargement of the area.

The water issuing from jet pipe Ellscatters in the vicinity of the sprinkler after the energy therein spends itself in striking the blades 62 of the water wheel.

While I have described my invention as embodied in a specific form and as operating in a specific manner for purposes of illustration, it should be understood that I do not limit my in- Vention thereto, since various modifications will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of my invention, the scope of which is set forth in the annexed claims.

I claim:

1. A rotary sprinkler comprising a stationary cylindricall support, a nozzle frame rotatably mounted in said support and terminating in a tiltable nozzle outlet, a Water supply conduit connected to the inlet of said nozzle frame, a waterwheel mounted for positive rotation on said frame, a branch pipe connected to said supply conduit with the outlet end thereof directed towards said water-wheel for impinging the water diverted therethrough against said water-wheel, reduction gearing between said water wheel and support for imparting rotation to said nozzle frame at low speed and high torque, and a circular trackway formed on the upper edge of said cylindrical support having alternate rises and depressions therein and supporting part of said nozzle frame for cyclically varying the inclination of the tiltable nozzle outlet in the course of its rotation.

2. A rotary sprinkler comprising a stationary support, a nozzle frame rotatably mounted in said support and terminating in a tiltable nozzle outlet, a water supply conduit connected to the inlet of said nozzle frame, a water-wheel mounted for rotation on said nozzle frame on a vertical axis displaced from the vertical axis of rotation of said nozzle frame, a branch pipe connected to said supply conduit with the outlet end thereof directed towards said water-wheel for impinging the Water diverted therethrough lagainst said water-wheel, reduction gearing between said Water-wheel and support for imparting positive rotation to said nozzle frame at low speed and high torque, a circular trackway on said support having alternate rises and depressions, and a guide roller in conr tact with said trackway and connected with said tiltable nozzle for cyclically varying the inclination of said nozzle in the course of its rotation.

3. A rotary sprinkler as set forth in claim 2 wherein said last-mentioned guide roller is connected to said tiltable nozzle through a compound lever system which amplies the movements of said roller in the transmission thereof to said tiltable nozzle.

4. A rotary sprinkler comprising a stationary cylindrical support, a water supply pipe extending upwardly Within said support along the central axis thereof, a nozzle frame rotatably mounted on said pipe with a flexible portion extending upwardly therefrom, a vertical rotary shaft mounted on said nozzle frame having a Waterwheel at the upper end thereof and a worm spiral at the lower end thereof, a transverse shaft extending from said nozzle frame adjacent to the lower end thereof, a sleeve rotatably mounted on said transverse shaft having at one end thereof a large worm-wheel in mesh with said worm spiral and a small gear wheel at the opposite end thereof, a ring mounted on the inside of said stationary cylindrical support having a circular gear track for guiding said last-mentioned gear wheel, a branch pipe connected to said nozzle frame for diverting a portion of the water therefrom and directing it against said Water-wheel for imparting rotation thereto and to said nozzle frame through the intermediary of said gearing, a cam track having alternate rises and depressions at the upper end of said stationary cylindrical support, and a follower adapted to ride on said cam track and connected to said flexible portion of said nozzle frame for cyclically varying the inclination of said portion in the course of rotation of said nozzle frame.

5. A rotary sprinkler comprising a stationary cylindrical support, a water supply pipe extending upwardly within said frame along the central axis thereof, a nozzle frame rotatably mounted on said pipe with a flexible portion extending upwardly therefrom and terminating in a perforated discharge nozzle, a vertical rotary shaft mounted on said nozzle frame having a waterwheel at the upper end thereof and a worm spiral at the lower end thereof, a transverse shaft eX- tending from said nozzle frame adjacent to the lower end thereof, a sleeve rotatably mounted on said transverse shaft having at one end thereof a large worm-wheel in mesh with said worm spiral and a small gear wheel at the opposite end thereof, a ring mounted on the inside of said stationary cylindrical frame having a circular gear track for said last-mentioned gear wheel, a branch pipe of small cross-sectional area connected to said nozzle frame for diverting a portion of the water therefrom and directing it against said waterwheel for imparting rotation thereto and to said nozzle frame through the intermediary of said gearing, a cam track having alternate rises and depressions formed on the top edge of said stationary cylindrical support, and a guide roller adapted to ride on said cam track and connected to said exible portion of said nozzle frame for cyclically varying the inclination of said discharge nozzle in the course of rotation of said nozzle frame.

6. A rotary sprinkler as set forth in claim 5 wherein the cam track is formed with four sharp rises with intervening depressions spaced apart to effect the watering of a square area.

7. A rotary sprinkler as set forth in claim 5 wherein said branch pipe is provided with a throttling valve to control the speed of the waterwheel and consequently the speed of rotary movement of said sprinkler.

8. A rotary sprinkler as set forth in claim 5 wherein said last-mentioned guide roller is connected to the nozzle` frame through the intermediary of toggle levers which amplify the movement of the guide roller which are imparted to the nozzle frame.

JAMES E. ASHWORTH.

REFERENCES CITED The following referenlces are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,146,228 Zint July 13, 1915 1,593,918 Stanton July 27, 1926 1,653,103 Keys Dec. 20, 1927 1,938,838 Jacobson Dec. 12, 1933 2,138,282 Lanninger Nov. 29, 1938 

